Ribbon guide take-up for splitting machinery



Aug. 13, 1968 R. P. MILLER ETAL 3,396,615

RIBBON GUIDE TAKE-UP FOR SPLITTING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 48" HYDRAULIC PRESSURE MEANS l0"" RIB.BON

INVENTORfi ROBERT R MILLER 8: BY RICHARD M. KUTS ATTORNEYS Aug. 13, 1968 R. P. MILLER ETAL 3,396,615

RIBBON GUIDE TAKE-UP FOR SPLITTING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS ROBERT P. MILLER 8 BY RlcHARD M. KUT'S ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 3,396,615 RIBBON GUIDE TAKE-UP FOR SPLITTING MACHINERY Robert P. Miller, Akron, and Richard M. Kuts, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignors to The Falls Engineering & Machine C0,, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 522,324

Claims. (Cl. 83-4) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ribbon guide take-up for splitting machinery utilizing an eccentrically pivotal wedge-type clamping mechanism which pivots eccentrically while take-up of the ribbon guide is accomplished to clamp and fold the ends of the ribbon guide with an increasing pressure as the tension on the ribbon guide is increased.

This invention relates to a ribbon guide take-up for splitting machinery, and more specifically to an improved wedge-type clamping mechanism to hold the ends of the ribbon guide firmly in fixed relation while take-up is accomplished.

Heretofore, it has been known that there have been many and various ways to clamp the ribbon or knife guide in foam and other block splitting machinery. It is well known that in this type of equipment, the cutting knife or ribbon runs in endless relationship much as a band saw, and cuts layers or sheets off block material when the cutting blade is brought into relative moving contact with the material, or the material is moved relative to the blade. In order to support this cutting knife or ribbon firmly and properly over its long distance cutting so that when a block of material is sliced into many thin sheets, each sheet will have uniform thickness across its full surface, it is necessary to support the ribbon, or band, firmly so that it presents an absolutely truly straight and properly oriented cutting edge. This has been accomplished in the past by a ribbon guide fitting around the knife or ribbon over its cutting length, with this guide being stretched taut to ri-gidize it and insure that the ribbon is perfectly straight along its cutting edge. Problems, however, have arisen because of the difiiculty in holding the ends of the ribbon guide or knife guide while it is being stretched.

Therefore, the general object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which securely holds the end of the ribbon guide in fixed relationship without give,

and in a very simple and efficient manner, while the ribbon guide is being stretched to a very high tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eccentrically mounted serrated wedge which when pivoted in one direction moves towards the serrated anvil surface so that the ribbon guide may be easily inserted thereinto, but cannot be pulled out to thereby permit tensionin-g of the ribbon guide, and further where the wedge apparatus may be pivoted slightly around the axis of the ribbon to insure that the cutting ribbon or blade is perfectly level at both ends so that a perfect cut is achieved.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by providing in a splitting machine the combination of a base frame, a table mounted on the frame in substantially horizontal position, an endless cutting ribbon mounted in spaced parallel relation over the top of the table, means to move the ribbon longitudinally in an endless path in such spaced parallel relation over the top of the table, a ribbon guide supporting the ribbon in its cutting position over the table, a wedge clamp mounted adjustably relative to the frame securely hold- Patented Aug. 13, 1968 ing the ribbon guide at each end thereof, and means to force the wedge clamps apart to thereby stretch the ribbon guide to a taut, rigid condition.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end view partially broken away showing the particular ribbon clamping mechanism associated with the ribbon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional illustration of the specific construction of one of the clamping mechanisms with its associated tensioning mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the level adjusting mechanism for the ribbon after it is clamped and tensioned, taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the clamping mechanism of FIGURE 2.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally a base frame having a substantially horizontal table 12 mounted thereon. In the usual practice of foam or other material splitting mechanism, a large rectangularly shaped block of material 14 is mounted on the table 12 and retained there in some suitable manner, for example, by a vacuum such as shown in United States patent application Ser. No. 445,375, filed Apr. 5, 1965, and now abandoned and assigned to the same assignee as this application. The block of material 14 is then sliced into thin sheets 1411 by passage therethrongh of an endless cutting ribbon 16 which is rotated around a pair of drums 18 and 20, and driven by a motor 22 suitably driving the drum 18. Cutting with the ribbon 16 is effected by either moving the ribbon relative to the material 14, or moving the material 14 relative to the ribbon 16. Any suitable reciprocating mechanism to this end, already well known in the art, may be utilized.

However, the essence of the present invention is achieved in mechanism for clamping a ribbon guide 24 at each end in securely fixed relationship, and these mechanisms are indicated generally by the numerals 26 and 28, respectively. The structure of the guide 24 is conventional, and is more fully shown in FIGURE 4, and explained hereinafter. In essence, the mechanisms 26 and 28 comprise an eccentrically mounted clamping wedge which tends to pivot easily to allow insertion of the ends of the ribbon guide 24, but tends to clamp increasingly with more pressure as the ribbon guide 24 is pulled therefrom. In fact, the wedge clamping positively prevents removal of the ribbon guide 24 from the mechanisms, as explained more fully hereinafter. Essentially though, when the ribbon guide 24 is securely clamped at both ends into the mechanisms 26 and 28, the mechanisms are forced away from each other thereby stretching the ribbon guide 24 into an extremely taut tensioned relationship. Basically, each mechanism 26 is fixedly mounted to an elongated shaft 30 and 32, respectively, which shafts are slidably received through support housing 34 and 36, respectively. The housings 34 and 36 are fixedly mounted to the frames by respective brackets 34a and 36a, and bolts 34b and 36b. Pressure plates 38 and 40 are secured over the reduced diameter end portions of shafts 30 and 32 by suitable locking nuts 42 and 44, respectively. The tensioning of the ribbon guide 24 is then accomplished by actuating a plurality of hydraulic pressure cells, each indicated by the numeral 46, through a hydraulic pres sure means 48 to effectively force the pressure plates 38 and 40 away from the frame mounted housings 34 and 36, respectively. The pressure cells 46 :are mounted in fixed relation to the respective pressure plates 38 and 40, as best seen in FIGURE 2.

Actually, it should be understood that the essence of the invention reside in the clamping mechanisms 26 and 3 28, and not in the apparatus to effect the spreading or moving of such mechanisms apart to tension the ribbon guide 24. Any suitable hydraulic or mechanical means to securely spread such mechanisms 26 and 28 apart would effectively meet the objects of the invention.

Therefore, for a better understanding of the construction and specific elements utilized in the mechanisms 26 and 28, specific reference should be had to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. Particularly, FIGURE 2 illustrates the mechanism 28, and clearly shows how the frame mounted housing 36 slidably holds the shaft 32 in slidable relation, as retained by the nut 44. However, the invention also contemplates that a thrust bearing 50 is positioned between the nut 44 and the pressure plate 40. Extending rams 4611 from cylinders 46 actually engage an enlarged collar 36a on the housing 36 to effect the desired movement to the pressure plate 40.

The mechanism 28 includes a base 60 with a recessed very hard anvil portion 62 removably positioned in relation thereto. A hole 64 through the bottom of the base 60 allows the anvil portion to be simply pushed out and replaced as necessary. A suitable knurled top surface 62a is formed on the top of the anvil 62. It has been found that simply a portion of a rather coarse wood or metal file will suitably meet the objects of the anvil, with the knurled or roughened surface already provided.

A vertically extending back frame 66 is integrally formed with the base 60 and has a pair of side frames 68 and 70 extending substantially perpendicularly thereto and about the width of the base 60, as clearly indicated in the drawings. Each of the side frames 68 and 70 has a vertically extending slot 72 therein. The clamping objects of the invention are then achieved by using a flat, substantially semi-circularly shaped wedge 74 having an eccentrically positioned hole through it. A pin 76 positioned through the hole in the wedge 74 and through the slots 72 in the sides 68 and 70 then eccentrically mounts the wedge 74 in relation to the anvil 62 in the base 60. The vertical adjustment of the wedge 74 is controlled by a pair of threaded screws 78 which pass down from the top of each side portion 68 and 70 and engage the ends of the pins 76.

The bottom edge surface 74a of the wedge 74 is knurled so as to provide an effective gripping surface onto the top of the ribbon guide 24. In order to assist in setting or releasing the wedge 74 from locked engagement with the ribbon guide 24, an elongated handle 80 is mounted thereto by suitable bolts 82. Thus, it should be understood that the wedge 74 is preferably pivotally mounted by pins 76 whereby rotation of the handle 80 in a direction indicated r by the arrow 84 will disengage the knurled bottom surface 74a from the ribbon guide 24 and allow the ribbon guide 24 to be removed. However, pivotal movement of the handle 80 in a direction indicated by the arrow 86, will clamp and wedge the knurled surface 74a into pinching engagement onto the top of the ribbon guide 24. Then, because of the eccentric mounting by the pin 76, any attempt to move the ribbon guide 24 out of this pinched engagement only causes further pinching and tightening of the wedge 74 as it tends to pivot closer to the top surface 62a of the anvil 62. Therefore, when the hydraulic cylinders 46 are actuated to draw the mechanism 28 in a direction indicated by an arrow 88, the end of the ribbon guide 24 while tending to be pulled out is securely held in a fixed relation between the wedge 74 and anvil 62.

An important feature of the ribbon guide tensioning apparatus is its ability to adjust the planar angle of the ribbon guide so that it is exactly horizontal or parallel to the material which is being cut. To this end, adjustment of either or both the screws 78 as locked by nuts 78a can be used to effectuate some tilting adjustment on both sides of the ribbon guide 24 by tilting the pin 76 mounting the wedge 74. However, in order to further provide tilting adjustment, the invention adds a collar ring 90 slidably fitted over the shaft 32 and engaging in close fitting complementary sliding relation to flats on each side of the shaft 32. The collar has a protruding section or flange 92 which slides adjacent to the outside surface of the housing 36 as clearly shown. The flange 92 has an extended slot 94 therein through which is stabbed a threaded end portion 96 of a locking shank 98. The threaded portion 96 is threadably received into a mating hole in the housing 36. Thus, when the threaded end 96 is screwed into the hole and housing 36, and the shank 98 comes into firm engagement with the top surface of the flange 92, the flange 92, and thus the collar ring 90, are both locked into fixed relationship with the housing 36. However, when the shank 98 is released, it permits rotation of the coliar ring 91), which in effect causes rotation of the shaft 32 and thus adjusts the angular or tilt relationship of the ribbon guide 24. In order to assist in turning the threaded portion 96 into a tight engagement to lock the shank 98, a handle 108 is provided at the top of the shank 98. Note that the flange 92 may be aflixed to the collar ring 90 by suitable welds 93.

In order for the ribbon or cutting knife 16 to pass by the housing 36 and collar ring 90, each is provided with a cut away portion 102, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. This then provides suflicient clearance for the ribbon 16 to easily pass thereby.

Further, it should be noted, as most clearly shown in FIGURE 4, that the actual clamping or pinching accomplished by the wedge 74 and anvil 62 does not pinch that portion of the ribbon guide 24 through which the ribbon itself passes. Thus, there is no danger in this set-up of actually pinching the ribbon 16 into a frictional engagement with the sides of the guide which obviously could cause considerable problems in the desired cutting action. The end of the ribbon guide 24 is indicated in FIGURE 4 by the numeral 24a. The guide 24 has a slot opening along the side 24b through which the ribbon 16 slides.

Therefore, it should be understood that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a unique clamping mechanism for holding the ends of a ribbon guide to allow it to be stretched to an extremely taut relationship thereby insuring that the ribbon guided thereby will be absolutely straight. Further, provision is made to adjust the level or flat relationship of such ribbon guide at both ends thereof after the stretch has been accomplished to insure that the blade is perfectly horizontal or in the desired relationship to the material to be cut.

What is claimed is:

1. In a splitting machine for a block of foamed material or the like, the combination of a base frame,

a table mounted on the frame in substantially a horizontal position,

an endless cutting ribbon mounted in spaced parallel relation to and above the top of the table,

means to move the ribbon longitudinally in an endless path in such spaced parallel relation over the top of the table,

a ribbon guide supporting the ribbon in its cutting position over the table,

a clamp mounted adjustable relative to the frame holding the ribbon guide by a pinching action at each end thereof, said clamp comprising an anvil base having a serrated surface, a fiat semi-circularly shaped wedge block with a circular hole eccentrically positioned therein having its bottom edge surface serrated, side supports mounted to the anvil base each having a substantially vertically directed slot therein, and pin means passed through the slots in the side supports and in close fitting relation through the circular hole in the wedge block to pivotally mount the wedge block relative to the side supports whereby the pivotal action about the eccentrically positioned hole causes the serrated edge surface of the wedge block to come into engagement with the serrated surface of the anvil base, and

means to force the clamps apart to thereby stretch the ribbon guide to a. taut rigid condition.

2. A combination according to claim 1 where means are mounted to the side supports to adjust the vertical relationship of the pin means to thereby allow for the positioning of a ribbon guide of varied thickness between the anvil base and the wedge block.

3. A combination according to claim 1 where means are mounted to the frame to releasably hold the wedge clamps in fixed relation to the frame, but allowing relative rotative movement of such wedge clamps relative to the frame whereby the ribbon guide may be adjusted at each end to an exactly flat relationship over its entire surface area.

4. A combination according to claim 1 where the wedge block clamps the ribbon guide against the anvil base only on that portion of the ribbon guide which does not carry the ribbon.

5. In a splitting machine for a block of foamed material or the like having a base frame, a table mounted on the frame in a horizontal position, and endless cutting ribbon mounted in spaced parallel relation above the table means to move the ribbon in such relation to the table, and a ribbon guide to support the ribbon in such relation which is characterized by an eccentrically pivotal wedge clamp adjustably mounted relative to the frame to hold each end or" the ribbon with a pinching, clamping action, means to independently rotate each wedge clamp in a plane substantially perpendicular to the movement to the ribbon whereby the ribbon guide may be tilted, and means to force the wedge clamps apart to stretch the ribbon guide whereby the wedge clamps pinch the ribbon guide with increasing pressure as the wedge clamps pivot eccentrically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,356 3/1881 Warren 269217 X 2,889,865 6/1959 Lalli 269236 X 3,263,537 8/1966 Rehman et a1. 83-201.15 X

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

